Was I the Only Soldier Who Served in RVN To Get a Ticket For Jay Walking?

2015-08-21T20:10:36-04:00

Downtown Saigon, 1970

So there I was, cruising Saigon, Jewel of the Orient and I decided to cross the street, not using the crosswalk that probably wasn't there, anyway.

When I got to the other side of the street, this cop stopped me, explaining I had jay walked. ("Jay Walked?? In Vietnam???")

He proceeded to write me up.

You can see his ticket pad, there.

I talked until I was blue in the face, explaining that I was [obviously] a GI, I would be going back to my unit (2nd/77th FA, 25th ID) once my three day pass had expired and that I would NOT be coming back to answer for the ticket.

Just like any other cop- he said nothing, just kept writing, ripped it off his ticket pad and handed it to me like it was just another day.

Please tell me I'm not the only GI to have ever been ticketed in Saigon for jay walking....

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Aug 21 at 2015 8:34 PM

2015-08-21T20:34:53-04:00

SSG Paul Forel, you artillery guys always left a bad impression for the grunts to suffer for!

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Aug 21 at 2015 8:53 PM

2015-08-21T20:53:08-04:00

White Mice gonna gitcha!

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Aug 21 at 2015 8:56 PM

2015-08-21T20:56:48-04:00

These days you are more likely to get a jay walking ticket in a combat zone from an American MP. I know MPs sat at 4-way stop signs on bases in Iraq waiting to ticket vehicles not coming to a full top. If you didn't have a seat belt on, that would be another ticket. I'm sure I'll hear it from the MPs in the group, but I always thought that was a little odd to do in Iraq.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2015 9:06 PM

2015-08-21T21:06:09-04:00

"Sorry, Charlie, only the finest." Opps that's tuna...yeah, I think you're the only one, hahaha!! Just a friendly comment SSG Paul Forel

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Aug 21 at 2015 9:15 PM

2015-08-21T21:15:24-04:00

That must be a record. Jaywalking in Vietnam. Saigon? Really? How could anyone spot you in that mass of humanity let alone distinguish that you were crossing a street. Did you cross "against the light"? When I was there I think there was only one functioning in the whole city and I didn't see anyone pay any attention to it. Indeed, I got stuck in a traffic jam there and had to play traffic cop, threatening drivers with my M16 to get them to obey. I untangled the mess just enough to get my driver and jeep through and then jumped aboard to get out of there. (No, no one gave me a ticket for that)

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 22 at 2015 4:20 AM

2015-08-22T04:20:10-04:00

Now that is some Bragging Rights. LOL!